full feather
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Good condition, high spirits. Also any one gaily dressed is said to be in FULL FEATHER.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “full feather” mean?
Good condition, high spirits. Also any one gaily dressed is said to be in FULL FEATHER.
Is “full feather” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.